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Monday, November 9, 2009

The Inn

It is always interesting to see the progression of a carver's skill. Here's an example of mine, taken from my local hitchhiker hostel.

(each stamp sized 2" x 1.25")

If you don't know what a hitchhiker hostel is, let me enlighten you. It is a traditional letterbox that you find in the normal way with clues. However, in the 'box is three (or more) hitchhiker letterboxes taking refuge. You then have the option of taking one or more of these hitchhikers and exchanging them for some that you have found previously, in other traditional boxes. The idea is take one, leave one (or more!).

After the first two stamps (above) went missing, I decided to carve a replacement featuring both designs and the name of the hostel on one stamp.

(stamp size 3.5" x 2.25")

But, wait a minute...what is a hitchhiker? In case you don't know, a hitchhiker letterbox travels from 'box to 'box, taking up temporary residence until the next finder takes it with them. They can travel all over the country before returning to their creator with a full logbook. And that logbook is a treasure, featuring both the traditional boxes it visited as well as the 'boxers that had the pleasure of stamping in.

And, you guessed it - the box went missing again. *sigh* So, I had to carve another stamp. The good thing is that it is now alive and well, and we have had a good opportunity to see these three stamps as an example of the improvement that time can have on carving skills. *smile*